Patient interface with torque-resistant connection

Abstract

An patient interface that reliably maintains a seal between it and the patient. The patient interface advantageously includes a deformation portion at its point of connection with an air supply, with the deformation portion being relatively more deformable than the other portions of the patient interface in order to resist torque applied by the air supply from disturbing the seal between the patient interface and the patient. While the air supply is pivotably connected with the patient interface and is pivotable about a pivot axis, a torque applied about an axis other than the pivot axis results in deformation of the deformation portion and thus advantageously avoids breaking the seal between the patient interface and the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A patient interface structured to provide a flow of breathing gases to a patient, the patient interface being further structured to be connected with a headgear for mounting the patient interface to the patient and to be connected with a supply ( 16 ) that is structured to supply the flow of breathing gases to the patient interface, the patient interface comprising:
 a mask body; 
 a flange apparatus connected to the mask body and being structured to engage the patient, wherein the mask body comprises:
 a connection structured to be connected with the supply, 
 a deformation portion situated peripheral to the connection, and 
 a support portion connected with and extending in a direction generally posterior from the deformation portion and being connected with the flange apparatus; the support portion being of a nominal thickness, and wherein a part of the deformation portion has another nominal thickness less than the nominal thickness and structured to be relatively more deformable than the support portion in response to a torque input at the connection; 
 
 wherein the another nominal thickness remains substantially constant throughout the part of the deformation portion; and 
 wherein a transition part of the deformation portion extends from the part of the deformation portion having the substantially constant another nominal thickness and is of a thickness that transitions in a ramped fashion between the nominal thickness and the another nominal thickness to thereby distribute stresses from the torque input along the transition part rather than concentrating such stresses at a more limited location. 
 
     
     
       2. The patient interface of  claim 1 , wherein the deformation portion extends about substantially the entirety of the periphery of the connection. 
     
     
       3. The patient interface of  claim 1 , wherein the another nominal thickness is in the range of about forty percent to sixty percent of the nominal thickness. 
     
     
       4. The patient interface of  claim 1 , wherein the nominal thickness remains substantially constant throughout the extent of the support portion. 
     
     
       5. The patient interface of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the deformation portion in a direction parallel with the transverse plane of the patient is greater than the height of the deformation portion in a direction parallel with the sagittal plane of the patient. 
     
     
       6. The patient interface of  claim 5 , wherein the deformation portion is of a roughly elliptical shape of which the width and the height are the major and minor axes, respectively. 
     
     
       7. A patient interface structured to provide a flow of breathing gases to a patient, the patient interface being further structured to be connected with a headgear for mounting the patient interface to the patient and to be connected with a supply that is structured to supply the flow of breathing gases to the patient interface, the patient interface comprising:
 a mask body; and 
 a flange apparatus connected peripherally with the mask body and being structured to engage the patient; 
 the mask body comprising:
 a connection structured to be connected with the supply and to permit pivotable movement between the supply and the mask body about a pivot axis that extends generally centrally through the connection, 
 a deformation portion situated peripheral to the connection, 
 a support portion connected with and extending in a direction generally posterior from the deformation portion and being connected with the flange apparatus, and 
 a part of the deformation portion being structured to be relatively more deformable than the support portion in response to a torque input at the connection about an axis other than the pivot axis; 
 
 the support portion being of a nominal thickness; 
 the part of the deformation portion being of another nominal thickness that remains substantially constant throughout the part of the deformation portion and that is less than the nominal thickness; and 
 a transition part of the deformation portion extending from the part of the deformation portion having the substantially constant another nominal thickness and being of a thickness that transitions in a ramped fashion between the nominal thickness and the another nominal thickness to thereby distribute stresses from the torque input along the transition part rather than concentrating such stresses at a more limited location. 
 
     
     
       8. The patient interface of  claim 7 , wherein the deformation portion extends about substantially the entirety of the periphery of the connection. 
     
     
       9. The patient interface of  claim 7 , wherein the another nominal thickness is in the range of about forty percent to sixty percent of the nominal thickness. 
     
     
       10. The patient interface of  claim 7 , wherein the nominal thickness remains substantially constant throughout the extent of the support portion. 
     
     
       11. The patient interface of  claim 7 , wherein the width of the deformation portion in a direction parallel with the transverse plane of the patient is greater than the height of the deformation portion in a direction parallel with the sagittal plane of the patient. 
     
     
       12. The patient interface of  claim 11 , wherein the deformation portion is of a roughly elliptical shape of which the width and the height are the major and minor axes, respectively.